Fertilizer-distributer and seed-drill.



v No. 733,848. PATENTBD- JULY 14, 1903..

uw. L. KENNEDY.

PERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER AND SEEDl DRILL.

APPLIOATIQNFILED DB0. 19 1902. y y No MODEL. i 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

VIC-1.3.

[Nl/ENTO/e @may -W. E. KENNEDY. EEETILIZEE DISTRIDUTER AND SEED DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 19. 1902.

NO MODEL.

i PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

l NNI NEN s immun l @En IHNIIHIiI FMH MW @xm PATENTLD JULY 14, 1903.

w. L. KENNEDY'.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR AND SEED DRILL. I

APPLIOATION FILED Dna. 19. 1902.

No MODEL. 4'sHLETs-SHEB'1' 4.

vweutoz Ne. 733,848. I

UNITED STATES 'Patented July 14, 1903'.

vPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. KENNEDY, OF I-IAY, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JEFF M.COLE, PIN, GEORGIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,848, dated July 14,1903i. Application tiled December 19, 1902. Serial No. 135,927. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, t may concern.;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. KENNEDY,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Hay,

in the county of Pauldingand State of Georgia, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Fertilizer-Distributors and Seed-Drills, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin combined fertilizer distributersand seeddrills; and the objects of the same are to provide a hopperhaving oppositely disposed compartments therein, from which extendinwardly-inclined feed spouts or boots adapted to deposit the fertilizeror seed in a line directly in rear of the plow or furrow-opener.

A further object is to employ a cut-o for the bottom of each of thecompartments, said cut-offs being adapted to be operated independentlyof each other or simultaneously by means of a lever arranged at the rearof the machine.

Another obj ect is to arrange an agitatorof` peculiar constructionwithin each compartment, whereby the contents of said compartf ment maybe thoroughly mixed and are prevented from clogging the outlettherefrom.

A further object is to provide furrow-coverers at each side of the rearof the machine, the same having means whereby they may be adjusted fromor toward the furrow.

Other objects are to provide means whereby the agitators may be operatedfrom a wheel connected to the hopper and to employ a removable bottom,whereby access may be had tothe cut-offs and their operating mechanism.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thefurther novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter morefully described and claimed, and illustrated ,in the accompanyingdrawings, showing the preferred form of myinvention, and in whichvFigure l is a perspective view of my improved fertilizer-distributer andseed-drill. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough at one side ofthe central partition in the hopper. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is abottom View. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation. Fig. 6 is a centrallongitudinal section through the hopper and the adjacent portions of themachine. Fig. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of the hopper with thedetachable bottom removed. Fig. 8fis a detail view of one of theagitators detached. Fig. 9 is a detail view of locking means employedfor securing together the two bottoms of the hopper. Fig. 10 is a planview of the detachable bottom of the hopper and showing a portion of therigid bottom of said hopper fastened thereto; and Fig. l1 is a sectionon line Fig. l0.

Referring tothe figures by numerals of reference, 1l is the frame of themachine, the side bars 2 thereof having handles 3 extending upwardfromtheir rear ends. Arranged upon this frame and between theframe-bars is ahopper 4, having two similar compartments 5 therein arranged at oppositesides of a partition 6. This partition is hollow, as shown in Fig. 6,the upper portions 7 of the sides thereof being tapered toward eachother and supported upon end blocks 8, arranged within the partition andupon the ends of the hopper. Hangers 9 extend downward from the rearIofthe hopper, and j ournaled between the lower ends thereof is acrank-shaft 10, having a Wheel 11, keyed or otherwise secured thereto.The crank upon the shaft is connected, by means of a pitman v12, to anarm 13, arranged within the partition 6 and extending downward from arock-shaft 14, journaled within the partition and extending into eachofthe compartments 5. To each end of this shaft 14 is fastened a head 15of an agitator of peculiar construction. This agitator comprises a plate16, which .extends downward from the head 15 and has three prongs 17extending therefrom, said prongs A slot 2l is formed longitudinallywithin the center of the bottom of each-compartment 5 in the hopper andin vertical alinement with the agitator in said compartment. Each ofthese slots is normally closed bya cut-off 22, formed of a strip ofsheet metal pivoted at one end andl having an arm 23 extending IOOinwardly therefrom at a point adjacent to said pivot. Atthe opposite endof the cut-off is a lateral extension 24, having a slot 25 therein forthe reception of the hooked end 26 of a screw-threaded rod 27. This rodis slidably mounted within the adjacent side bar 2, and a thumb-nut 23is mounted upon the outer end thereof and normally bears uponsaid sidebars. A V-shaped spring end 29.is interposed between the two cut-offs 22and is fastened to the bottom of the hopper. The free ends of thisspring bear upon the two arms 23 of the cut-offs and serve to hold saidcut-offs normally removed from under Vthe slots 21. A strip 30 isfulcrumed off of its center upon the bottom of the hopper at a pointintermediate the forward ends of the two cutoffs, and this strip is ofsuch length that the two ends thereof can be brought simultaneously intocontact with the inner edges of the two cut-offs, and thereby move thesame in position under the slots 21. This strip is operated by means ofa rod 3l, which is connected to the inwardly-turned end of a lever 32,fulcrumedupon the bottom of the hopper at the rear thereof. This levereX- tends upward in rear of the hopper and is provided with a handle 33,whereby the same may be readily moved back and forth by the operator. Acatch 34 may be provided upon the rear of the hopper for locking thelever in position after the cut-offs have been closed and the spring 29placed under tension thereby.

The hopper is provided with a detachable bottom 35, which is adapted tofit snugly between the side bars 2 and the front and rear cross-bars ofthe hopper-frame, and thisbottom is secured in position by means of rods36, swiveled in opposite sides thereof and having hooked inner ends 37,adapted to extend into slots 38', formed within the bottom of thecompartments 5. A head 38 is arranged at the lower end of each of theserods and by means thereof the hooked ends of the rods can be turned atright angles to the slots 38' after they have been inserted therein.This lower or second bottom 35 is provided with recesses at suitablepoints in the upper face thereof to receive the cut-offs and the variousparts adjacent thereto, and it serves to protect the same from dust orother material that would clog or otherwise aect the operation of theparts.

A plow or furrow-opener 39 is arranged at the front of the hopper andbelow the same, and furrow-coverers 40 are provided at the rear of thehopper. These coverers are secured to the rear ends of springstrips 4l,which extend under the side bars 2 and are pivoted thereto,as shown at42. The forward ends of the strips are provided with transverse slots43, through which extend setscrews 44, whereby the strips may be lockedagainst movement upon their fulcrums 42. An ear 45 extends laterallyfrom each side bar 2 and at a point adjacent to the rear end thereof,and within the same is mounted an inclined ad j usting-screw 46, whichis adapted to bear upon the strip. By means of these screws the pressureof the furrow coverers upon the ground may be regulated.

The hopper of the machine is not secured rigidly to the frame thereof,but is fastened to spring-metal straps 47, arranged along the sidesthereof. These straps are fastened at their forward ends in any suitablemanner to the side bars 2, while the rear ends thereof are adapted to beclamped Aupon said side bars by means of pivoted catches 48 thereon. Byreleasing these straps from the catches it is obvious that the machinecan be moved over rough ground without jarring the hands grasping thehandles 3, because the straps 47 serve the purposes of springs and actas cushions for the handles.

In operation as the machine is drawn over the ground and the furrows areopened thereby wheel 1l will rotate and impart an oscillating motion tothe arm 13 and the agitators upon the rocking shaft 14. When it isdesired to discharge the con tents of the compartments 5 through theslots 21, lever 32 is released from engagement with catch 34, and thespring 29 serves to promptly throw the cut-offs 22 from under saidslots. If desired, however, one of these cut-offs may be retained inposition by screwing the nut 2S upon rod 27, connected therewith, untilthe hook 26 upon said rod has been drawn to the end of slot 25. To closethe slots 21, it is merely necessary to swing the lever 32 intoengagement with catch 34. Strap 30 will then force the cut-offs inopposite directions and bring them into position under the slots.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention, but- I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore re serve theright to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In aplanter of the character described, the combination with a hopper havingan outlet in the bottom thereof, of a cut-off pivoted to the bottom,means for holding the cut-off normally removed from under the outlet, alever fulcrumed upon the hopper, and a strip pivoted adjacent to thecut-off and connected to the lever.

2. In a planter of the character described, the combination with ahopper having an outlet in the bottom thereof; of a cut-olf pivotedadjacent to said outlet, a spring for holding the cut-off normallyremoved from under the outlet, a strip fulcru med to the bottom of thehopper and bearing at one end upon said cutoff, a lever, meansconnecting said lever and strip,and a hooked rod adj ustabl y connectedto the hopper and engaging a slot in the cut-off.

3. In a planter of the character described,

IZO

the combination with a hopper having parallel compartments therein, andan outlet in the bottom of each compartment; of a cut-off pivoted to thebottom of the hopper adjacent to each of the outlets, aninwardly-extending arm to each cut-olf, a spring bearing upon the armsand adapted to hold the cut-offs normally removed from under theoutlets, a strip pivoted to the bottom of the hopper and between thecut-offs, a lever, and means connecting said lever and strip.

4. In a planter of the character described, the combination with ahopper having compartments therein, and an outlet in the bottom of eachcompartment; of a cut-0E pivoted to the bottom adjacent to each outlet,a spring for holding the cut-os normally removed from under the outlets,hooked rods adjustably connected to opposite sides of the hopper andengaging slots within the cut-os, and means for moving said cut-offssimultaneouslj7 into position below the out-lets.

5. In a planter of the character described, the combination with ahopper having compartments therein, and an outlet in the bottom of eachcompartment; of a cut-oit pivoted to the bottom at a point adjacent toeach outlet, inwardly-extending arms to the cutofs, a spring bearingthereon and adapted to hold the cnt-offs normally removed from under theoutlets, means for locking either or both of the cut-ods in positionbelow the outlets, a strip pivoted to the hopper between the outlets andadapted to bear at opposite ends upon the cut-offs, a lever, a rodconnect-- hinges thereon, and a hopper secured to said hinges; of ahollowr partition within the hopper, a shaft journaled therein, a Wheelconnected to and extending below the hopper, a crank-shaft revolublewith the wheel, an'arm extending from the shaft in the-partition, a i

bottom Yconnecting said arm and the crankshaft, and an agitator securedat each end of the shaft journaled in the partition.

7. In a planter ofthe character described, the combination with a framehaving a hopper mounted thereon, an outlet in the hopper, and cut-oftmechanism below the hopper; of pivoted spring-strips extendingrearwardly from opposite sides of the hopper, and having furrow coverersat the ends thereof, means for locking said strips in adjusted position,and an adjusting-screw bearing upon each strip. l

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. RAGAN, B. S. KILGOUR.

